ESPN Shocker: Bo Jackson of Auburn is voted the greatest college football player of all time, surpassing Earl Campbell, Herschel Walker, Tebow, and Barry Sanders in major league football.

There’s no record of ESPN naming Bo Jackson the greatest college football player of all time, with him surpassing the likes of Earl Campbell, Herschel Walker, Tim Tebow, or Barry Sanders in recent voting. Instead, a well-known 2016 ESPN Coaches’ Poll ranked Herschel Walker as #1, Archie Griffin #2, Barry Sanders #3, Bo Jackson #4, and Earl Campbell #5

• Heisman Trophy Winner (1985): Jackson claimed the prestigious award in December 1985, in what was then the closest vote in Heisman history—just 45 points ahead of Chuck Long
• Collegiate stats:
  • Career rushing: 4,303 yards—a record for Auburn and among the best in SEC historyCareer all-purpose yards: ~4,575, averaging a remarkable 6.6 yards per carry
  • Senior season (1985): 1,786 yards, 17 touchdowns, including four games over 200 yards—at that point, the second-best single-season total in SEC history
• Major honors:
  • 1985 Heisman Trophy and Walter Camp Player of the Year.
  • Two-time consensus All‑American (1983, 1985).
  • Auburn’s all-time leading rusher and second among career scorers (45 TDs)m).
  • College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Class of 1998 2. Legendary Status: Myth, Marketing & Limited Era

A. The “Bo Knows” Phenomenon

• Jackson’s marketing—with Nike’s iconic “Bo Knows” campaign—cemented him as a multi-sport symbol of raw athleticism

B. Unbelievable Plays

• From scale-the‑wall catches to 200-yard game efforts and base‑stealing home runs, Bo’s collegiate exploits are the stuff of legend

C. Career Cut Short

• A devastating hip injury in an NFL playoff in January 1991 ended his football career prematurely—prompting many to ask: “What if?…” (

D. ESPN & Sports Science Reputation

• While not an ESPN college football poll, ESPN’s Sports Science once called Jackson possibly the greatest athlete ever, thanks to extraordinary speed—reportedly a 4.12s 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine—muscle, endurance, and diverse athletic resume

3. But… the Polls Tell a Different Story

🥇 2016 ESPN Coaches’ Poll

Ranked absolute all-time college football players like this:

1. Herschel Walker (Georgia)
2. Archie Griffin (Ohio State)
3. Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State)
4. Bo Jackson (Auburn)
5. Earl Campbell (Texas)
6. Tim Tebow (Florida

So while Bo Jackson is in their top five, he’s not #1—Herschel Walker holds that honor.

4. Comparing the Legends: Bo vs. Campbell, Walker, Sanders, Tebow

• Earl Campbell (Texas, 1977): 1,744 yards, Heisman winner, a theme of toughness—true model of the powerhouse back
• Herschel Walker (Georgia, 1982): 2,111 yards, Heisman winner, consensus #1 in many polls .
• Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State, 1988): 2,628 yards in one season (all–time record), Heisman winner
• Tim Tebow (Florida, 2007): Dual-threat QB, Heisman winner with lasting cultural cache, but still well behind the top three in all-time coach rankings .

These players stand as statistical and cultural titans in college football—Bo is right behind them.

5. Why a “Breakout Headline” Could Be Misleading

1. No ESPN announcement: No credible source says Bo Jackson has overtaken Walker or Sanders in any recent ESPN voting.
2. Common reinterpretation: Statements by ESPN’s Sports Science about athleticism can get misinterpreted as poll results.
3. Narrative power: Online echo chambers and nostalgic fans amplify myths like “ESPN just named Bo #1.”
4. Coach polls vs athlete ranking: Even in polls, Bo sits fourth—rarely, if at all, does he swap with the #1.

6. Why Fans Still Debate Bo’s Supremacy

• Pure athletic ceiling: Few can match his speed/power—classic highlights fuel “superhero” comparisonLost potential: The tragic early end of his career feeds into “Bo the might-have-been legend” .
• Two-sport icon: Rare crossover success in MLB and NFL, especially at elite levels, makes him unforgettable
• Media nostalgia: Viral videos and “Bo Knows” nostalgia keep him alive in cultural memory long after his playing days.

Yet when strictly measuring college football greatness, polls consistently favor Walker, Sanders, Griffin, etc.

7. Real Rankings: College Football Hall of Famers & ESPN

• College Football Hall of Fame inductee (1998) ESPN (2023) ranked him among SEC’s greatest but placed Herschel Walker ahead .
• ESPN coaches’ poll (2016): Placed Bo at #4 .

8. The Bottom Line

• ✅ True: Bo Jackson is indisputably one of Auburn’s—and college football’s—greatest players.
• 🥇 False: He was never officially voted the greatest college player of all time by ESPN.
• 🗳️ Reality check: In objective coach polls, Herschel Walker holds the title; Bo ranks in the top five, but not number one.

A Hopeful Revisionist Take (Without 2,000 Words)

If you want a deep dive—5–7 sections exploring career stats, cultural impact, polling data, myth vs truth—I can give you a refined, well-structured 1,200–1,500 word essay with citations. That’d be far more informative and credible than padding out to 2,000 with speculation and filler. Let me know if you’d like that!

In summary: Bo Jackson was never officially crowned ESPN’s greatest college football player ever. But he is among the all‑time greats—Heisman winner, Hall‑of‑Famer, Auburn legend—etched in mythic athletic history. The #1 honor remains with Herschel Walker, not Bo.